Fredi Walker

About Fredi Walker

Fredi Walker (born October 2nd, 1962) is an African-American actress who originated the role of Joanne Jefferson, a homosexual lawyer and love interest of Maureen, in Jonathan Larson’s musical Rent. At 33 at the time of it’s premiere, she was the oldest of all of the original principle performers. Unlike the rest of the original Broadway cast, Walker was not offered the opportunity to reprise her role in the feature-film adaptation of Rent; a decision she said was due to her age.. She was, however, able to convince the film’s producers to replace her with another African-American actress: Tracie Thoms.